Why in PNG, people don't get patriotic over this beautiful nation and instead inclined towards ethnicity, provincialism & regionalism?
When meeting up with a fellow citizen in PNG, this question seems to be always there.
Where are you from?
From outside of PNG, the media describes PNG as an improvised island nation in the Pacific or worse the cannibalism practicing island in the Pacific.
I don't mind whatever outside views they have on PNG and my people but I'm proud to call myself from Papua New Guinea and not a province, region or ethnicity that is Unknown to the outside world. Ethnicity segregation is a basis of domesticated racism in PNG which most people intentionally promote or unknowingly involved but have negative social impacts in the societies.
We have obvious resentments of nambis against highlands or vise versa. Tari or Engans are not anyone's favorite for a friendship, relationships or trust. We always see them as aggressive people, but - is it good putting everyone into the same basket for the convenience of the radical ethnicity assumption?
Individuals in PNG might have their own personal judgement or perception against the Sepiks, Manus, Tolai, Nips, Samarai, Kerema, Papua, Daru, Oro Kaiva or Buka people to satisfy his or her own ethnicity, province and region's radical views. This is how PNG domesticated racism exists but one forgets to understand that; No race or ethnicity is better than another in PNG or anywhere in the world, all humans were made in His own image and likeness - We are the image of the Man Above Us.
Maybe someone heard from someone saying; those ethnic people, province or region's people are like this and that, etc. It might have happened between two people and that's their experience but we tend to believe what is told and view other persons of the same ethnicity like same species of piglets would behave. We tend to forget the human values, integrity and ethical qualities one human is born with, which makes him/her different and unique human being.
In reality, people are born different and unique, have their own mindsets and personality; not all people are same type of person despite coming from same family, ethnicity, province or region.
Rationally, people are born individually unique and different from each other and not in a day like piglets.
Some people in PNG are so obsessed to say ; I'm from here and there with radical ethnicity related segregation ideologies which are being put up for show at Provincial Day Celebrations in PNG.
We do not realized that, such ideas are keeping us secured in our little places whilst PNG remains unexplored to ourselves despite a PNG citizen living the entire lifetime in PNG. Hence, you cannot experience change or see it happening to you because you into your little secured world build on ethnicity ideologies and don't know the diversified nation of Papua New Guinea.
You still living in PNG, yet you are scared to go to Buka because there is tensions from the decade old crisis, you do not want to go to Enga or Tari because of tribal conflicts, you do not want to go to Samarai because you heard of cultural practices. Similarly you have developed assumptions of some places in PNG and you think your area and people are only the better people all over the world and in PNG but that's definitely a radical ethnicity view and racism. In fact, you are still PNG citizen living in Papua New Guinea and these places are part of your country.
Even you are from PNG but you haven't seen PNG and explored PNG yet because of your own mindset pinned into ethnicity and racial segregation ideologies which is a fear and insecurity. People hold onto such radical ethnicity ideologies as prides to live in their little world within PNG. However, the outside view of PNG remains as; an improvised island nation in the Pacific where cannibalism is practiced - and in it your ethnicity, province or region is included.
So I don't deny the fact that, #ImFromPNG and have the passion to travel around my own country, meet with people of different ethnic groups amongst the thousands in PNG, share their experiences and stories; be like one of them because we live in a country called Papua New Guinea referred by tourists as last frontier and off the beaten track adventure paradise.
Its a shame if you are from Papua New Guinea but haven't seen more than 5x provinces in PNG, rather lives in your own little world within PNG thinking world knows your ethnicity, region or province but never in your smallest radical ethnicity dreams.
Be rational, end the so called domesticated and radical racial segregation (racism) and be proud of PNG, one of the Unique countries in the world which I proudly see it this way; a continent with 22 countries or a country with 22 states that has thousands of amazing cultures, rare species of flora and fauna with diverse marine biodiversity that are unique to the world.
A country that has natural landscapes that remains eligible amongst the wonders of the world, rare flora and fauna species, diverse marine biodiversity and cultural traditions that are beyond the UNESCO heritage listing criteria. We have more to be proud of as a Papua New Guinean than a radical ethnicity obsessed racist.
Our own limitations are driven by domesticated racism, racial segregation and radical ethnicity promotion in PNG by individuals and groups intentionally or being personally obsessed with ethnicity promotions.
We need to open up our mindsets and time to explore PNG when you cannot get to man-made monuments, parks and cities of the world due to Covid19 Pandemic restrictions. There is lot more to explore in PNG that will amaze and keep you awe.
You need to get out of your ethnicity wall, think and act like Papua New Guinean in your own country.
There's more to see in PNG and yes - #HaveYouSeenPNGyet?
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